Motor vehicle stabilizing means



y 1949. c. c. UTZ

MOTOR VEHICLE STABILIZING MEANS Original Filed Sept. 17, 1942 INVENTOR 6%66567' C ZZZZ'.

A T TORNE Y5.

\ Rebmd May 24, 1949 23,116 MOTOR VEHICLE STABILIZING MEANS Chester 0. Utz, Magn Chrysler Corporation, corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,442,252,

No. 458,625, September 1'7.

olia, Mich., assignor to Highland Park, Mlch., a

dated May 25, 1948, Serial i942. Application for reissue September 16, 1948, Serial No. 49,665

17 Claims.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to improvements in stabilizing or anti-sway means for the bodies of vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide an efi'lcient and low cost stabilizing means which is especially adapted for vehicles having independently sprung ground wheels.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of stabilizing means as aforesaid which, when employed in association with steerable ground wheels, does not interfere with or restrict steering movement of such wheels and thus makes possible a shorter turning radius for the vehicle.

A still further object is the provision of stabilizing means in the form of a torsion bar structure in association with an independent wheel suspension having the foregoing advantages and which will readily accommodate the installation and removal of a lifting jack.

In carrying out the invention in conjunction with the independent wheel suspension including upper and lower link members connected at their outer ends by a wheel carrying structure, there is preferably provided a torsion bar for each suspension having the main body thereof disposed approximately parallel with and immediately ad- Jacent the associated lower link member and nonrotatably connected at the outer end thereof to the latter member, the adjacent end portions of each of the bars constituting a crank arm angled from the main body. The free ends of these crank arms are connected together and cooperate with the fixed ends of the bars to torsionally stress the main body of the bars when, for example, one wheel rises or falls relative to the other thereof, thus developing torsion in both bars equally. Each bar is preferably rotatably connected by an insulating bushing with its associated link member at a point intermediate its crank arm and fixed end.

, Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a typical motor vehicle construction having the invention applied thereto, parts being broken away to illustrate the underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view iilustrating more particularly the application of the invention to a typical Wheel suspension of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional eievational view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. -i is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated in connection with the front steerable ground wheels l0 disposed opposite each other at the sides of a frame structure, including the iongitudinally extending side rails II and front cross member I2, which is adapted to support the body structure in the conventional manner.

The frame structure is supported on the wheels Ill by a system of independent suspension for each of the ground wheels, the illustrated suspension including the upper link member l3 pivoted at M on the frame structure and a lower link member l5 pivoted at IE to the frame cross member I2 for swinging movement on the axis H. The members l3 and I5 may be of the usual wishbone type and extend laterally outwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle for connection at their outer ends with the generally upright wheel carrying knuckle support arm l8 which is articulated at i9 and 20 with the upper and lower link members, respectively. The lower link member I! includes a pair of arms 2| channel-shaped in cross section and opening away from each other.

The upright arm l8 carries a knuckle portion 22 having the usual king pin 23 for swivelling the companion knuckle portion 24 of the associated Wheel H] to thereby accommodate steering movement of the Wheels in the well known manner. A coil spring 25 acts between the frame member 12 and a seat 26 supported by the lower link member to yieldingly support the weight of the frame structure on the ground wheels.

The independent wheel suspension accommodates rising and falling movement of each ground wheel ||l relative to the frame structure independently of the remaining ground wheels of the vehicle, the link members l3 and I5 maintaining the associated arm H3 in the desir lpright p0- sition. Suitable shock absorbing means, not shown, may be associated with each wheel suspension, if desired.

The stabilizing means is provided by a torsion bar assembly including a pair of torsion bars 21 respectively associated with the illustrated wheel suspensions. Each bar 21 has the main body thereof disposed parallel with the forward member 2| of the associated lower linkage II, the major portion of such main body lying within the associated channeled link member. The outer end of each bar 21 is T-shaped and hollow to receive a bolt 28 extending through the channel flanges of the member 2| and the spring seat 28, as more particularly shown in Fig. 2. In this manner the overlies the channel aforesaid bar end is non-rotatabiy secured to the lower linkage for movement therewith.

Thus it will be noted that the major portion particularly that portion thereof extending outwardly beyond the pivot point It of the associated lower linkage is disposed generally lengthwise with respect to and immediately adjacent the forward member II 01 the latter linkage. This disposition .of the bar eliminates engagement of the wheel the with the associated rod during ing jack for raising a wheel and its support.

The inner end of each bar I1 is angled from connected together by a link 3|) including a metallic casing 3! having vertically spaced compartments each of which contains a body of rubberlike material 32 having oppositely disposed openings respectively registering with a correspondis rotatably attached to its associated arm 2| intermediateits ends and adjacent its crank arm 29 by connection'generally indicated at 33. For this connection the ends of the channel flanges of the arm 2| are oppositely deflected vertically and abut a plate 38' which portion of a bracket 34 having opposed flanges abutting the plate. The opposed flanges, plate 33' and the vertical flanges 01' the channel arm 2! have registering openings receiving the securing bolts 35. channel portion of the bracket 34 rubber-like material 36 having an opening therein receiving the bar 21. The connection 33 provides an insulating journal for the bar 21, the material 36 being under compression.

In operation, rising or falling movement of one of the wheels Ill relative to the other thereof de- The stabilizer means comprises the resilient bar means 21 extending generallyilaterally of the vehicle frame structure and having the outer non-rotatably connected at 28 to the respective lower wheel supporting linkages I 5 and particularly to the forwardly disposed arm 2| of each such linkage, each such end connection 28 being located between the trame connection I claim: i a 1. In a vehicle including a pair of oppositely sans 3 relative oscillation ofsaid members.

2. In a vehicle including a pair of oppositely disposed wheels and independent suspension spectively associated with said members each having apart thereof adapted to be torsionally stressed disposed lengthwise with respect to the 3. In a vehicle suspension including oppositely sposed wheels and means independently suswith the associated wheel and in cross section throughout the its length, stabilizing means in- 4. In a disposed torsion bar main body accommodating stressing oi the latter as aforesaid.

5. In a vehclesuspension including oppositely disposed wheels and means independently suspending said wheels for rising and falling movement, each suspension means including a memq ber oscillated with the associated wheel, vehicle stabilizing means including a torsion bar assembly having the outer end portions thereof respectively fixedly anchored to said members, Journalling means for said bar assembly respectively carried by said members, said bar assembly including a pair oi." adjacent interconnected crank-like arms between said journalling means cooperating with said fixed end portions to torsionally stress those portions of said assembly intermediate said arms and said fixed end portions in response to movement of one oi said wheels as aforesaid relative to the other of said wheels.

6. In a vehicle suspension including oppositely disposed Wheels and means independently suspending said wheels for rising and falling movement, each suspension means including a member oscillated with the associated wheel, the main body of said member being channel-shaped in cross section, vehicle stabilizing means including a torsion bar assembly having spaced parts thereof respectively disposed in said main bodies of said members, the non-adjacent ends of each of said parts being non-rotatably attached to the associated member for movement therewith, journalling means for said bar assembly respectively carried by said members, said bar'assembly including a pair adjacent interconnected crank-like arms between said journalling means cooperating with said non-rotatably attached ends to torsionally stress those portions of said bar assembly intermediate said arms and said ends in response to movement of one of said wheels as aforesaid relative to the other of said wheels.

'1. In a vehicle suspension including oppositely disposed wheels and means independently suspending said wheels for rising-and falling movement, each suspension means including a memberextending generally transversely of the vehicle and pivotally supported for oscillation with the associated wheel, torsion bars respectively associated with said members each having a part thereof extending outwardly with respect to the vehicle beyond the axis of pivot of its associated member, means non-rotatably fixing the outer end portion of each of said parts to its associated member for movement therewith, each of said bars having a crank arm at the other end portion thereof connected one with the other and operable in conjunction with said fixed outer end portions to torsionally stress that portion of each of said bars intermediate its crank arm and fixed end in response to movement of one of said wheels as aforesaid relative to the other of said wheels.

8. In a motor having a pair of oppositely dis posed road wheels, a pair of members respectively connected with said wheels and mounted for oscillatory movement each about an individual axis, and stabilizing means including a pair of torsion bars respectively disposed generally transversely with respect to the axis of oscillation of said members and having their non-adjacent end portions respectively attached to said members for movement therewith, each of said bars having a crank-like arm at the-adjacent end portion thereof spaced vertically one from the other, and yieldable force transmitting link -i cane means connecting said together for operation in conjunction withsaid non-adjacent ends to torsionally stress each 'of said bars intermedi ate said non-adjacent ends and said crank arms in responsejo relative oscillation ofsaid members.

9. In a motor vehicle including a plurality oi! road wheels and a suspension for at least one of said wheels accommodating rising and falling movement thereof independently of other of said wheels, said suspension including a member mounted for oscillatory movement and connected with said one wheel for movement therewith in response to rising and falling thereof as aforesaid, and stabilizing means including a torsion bar having a part thereof disposed generally lengthwise with respect to said member adapted to be torsionally stressed to resist oscillatory movement of said member, an end portion of said part being non-rotatably connected to said member for movement therewith incident to rising and falling wheel movement, said bar'further including a reaction crank-like arm at the other end portion thereof cooperating with said connection to stress said part as aforesaid.

10. In a vehicle including a pair of oppositely disposed road wheels, means supporting and guiding each of said wheels for rising and falling movement independently of each other, each of said means including an arm structure connected with its wheel for rising and falling movement therewith and mounted for oscillation to accommodate said movement, and stabilizing means including members relatively arranged to provide non-adjacent end portions respectively secured to said arm structures for movement therewith and adjacent end portions, each of said adjacent end portions including a crank arm offset one relative to the other, and force transmitting means connecting said crank arms together for cooperating with said non-adjacent end portions to torsionally stress said members intermediate said crank arms and said non-adjacent end portions in response to relative oscillation of said arm structures, said force transmitting connecting means being yieldable to accommodate limited relative movement of said crank arms under the influence of relative oscillation of said arm structures.

11. In a motor vehicle including a frame structure, a road wheel disposed at either side of said frame structure, means supporting and guiding each of said wheels from said frame structure for rising and falling movement independently of the other wheel, each of said means including upper and lower linkages extending generally outwardly from and pivotally connected to said frame structure for oscillatory movement relative thereto to accommodate said movement of the wheel associated therewith, the axes of pivot of said lower linkages being spaced one from the other in a direction transversely of said frame structure, spring means supporting said frame structure on said lower linkages, stabilizing means including a pair of spring elements respectively operably associated with said lower linkages and disposed generally transversely with respect to the axis of oscillatory movement of the associated lower linkage, each of said spring elements having end portions one of which is disposed outwardly with respect to the vehicle beyond the axis of oscillation of its associated lower linkage and the other of which is disposed between said axes, means for supporting each of said spring elements on its associated lower linkage and inthereby in a direction similar to said i Q if 1 in m eludin means Mng W ma eudportion with its associated lower unk age for movement therewith and against movement relative-thereto. each of said spring elements being free from connection with said saueframe structure other than through its said supporting means on the associated lower linkage,

and means yieldingly connecting those end por-' tions of said spring elements which are disposed between said axes so constructed and arrangedas to accommodate relative movement therebe tween and to transmitforce between elements in'ies'ponse to rising and falling movements of each wheel relative to the other to thereby yieldingly oppose such relative wheel said spring movement by imposing upon each lower linkage a force tending to move the wheel supported risin and falling movements of the other wheel.

12. In combination, a vehicle frame, an individual wheel suspension at each side of the frame each suspension including a. laterally extending arm connected to the frame for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the frame, resilient bar meansextending laterally of the frame,

and means mounting said zbar-=means to said arms respectively for movement therewithand against bodily displacement therefrom, each said mounting means including a, connection located between the frame (connection for the arm and the outer end-of the arm, said bar means being free from any controlling connection with parts of the vehicle other than said arms.

13. In combination, a vehicle frame, an individual wheel suspension at each side of the frame, each suspension including a laterally extending arm connected to the frame for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending generally longitudinally of the frame, resilient bar means having a generally bow shape between its ends extending laterally of the frame, and means mounting said bar means to said arms respectively for movement therewith and against bodily displacement therefrom, said mounting means including a. connection located between the frame connection for the arms and the outer ends of said arms, said bar means being free from any controllin connection with said vehicle frame other than through said laterally extending arms.

14. In combination, a vehicle frame having a longitudinal center line, an individual wheel suspension at each side of said frame, each suspension including a laterally extending arm connected to the frame for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the frame, resilient bar means extending laterally of the frame, and spaced means at each side of the longitudinal center line of said frame mountin said bar means ,to each of said arms respectively for movement therewithand against bodily displacement therefrom, one each of said spaced mounting means beinglocated between the frame connection for the armsand the outer ends of the arms, said bar means being, free from any controlling connection with parts of said vehicle other than said arms.

15. In combination, a vehicle frame, an individual wheel suspension at each sidev of said frame for accommodating rising and falling the frame for swinging movement =about"a substantially horizontal xis extending =generally r 4 tirfjfzms "-7 -r'neans between the longitudinally of the frame. said arms each hav ing a channel-shaped pe.-tion outwardly of said connection. and resilient bar means having nonadjacent portions mounted on said arms within said channels against bodily displacement therefrom but movable with said arms to stress the portions of said bar means intermediate said non-adjacent portions in response to the relative rising and falling movement of said wheels, whereby a movement of one wheel in one direction will tend to produce a similar movement of the other wheel in the same direction, there being'at least one fastening means for said bar frame connections'for the arms and the outer I barmeansbeing free from any controlling connection with said vehicle frame other than through said laterally extending arms.

16. In, combination, a; vehiclefram'e' having a longitudinal center line, an individual wheel susspaced means at each side of the longitudinal center line placement therefrom, one each of said spaced mounting means comprising a Journal having a resilient core surrounding a longitudinal portion of the bar means and accommodating rotative movement of said bar means relative to the said arms, said bar means being free from any controlling connection with said vehicle frame other than through said arms.

17. In combination with a vehicle frame and individual wheel suspension at each side of the frame, said suspensions including arms pivoted to the frame at their inner ends and extending outwardly away from one another the frame for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the frame, a resilient stabilizer bar element connected to each armin the re-' gion between its pivot and its outer end and extending laterally of the frame to a point between orms'rna c. UTZ. REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s'ra'rns PATENTS FOREIGN PATEN'I'S Country Great Britain Germany Number Date 1 Nov. 3, 1908 Feb. 13, 1940 May 21, 1940 Apr. 1, 1941 Sept. 2, 1941 Nov. 18, 1941 Mar. 14, 1944 Number Date Jan. 4, 1945 Nov. 28, 1934 v 

